Publications

CoPI’s:
Ya-Ping Sun, Professor of Chemistry, Clemson University
Fred J. Stutzenberger, Professor of Microbiology, Clemson University
Jeremy Tzeng, Lecturer in Microbiology, Clemson University
Jesse Grimes, Professor of Poultry Science, North Carolina State
University

Abstract
It is well known in the field of biomaterials that the biological
response to sub-micron sized particles of an implanted polymeric material
can induce severe adverse biological responses that are not induced by
the same material in bulk form. On the other hand, living systems (e.g.
plants, insects, fish, animals, and humans) are exposed to nanoparticles
in the form of dust, pollen, spores, etc. from a very wide variety of
both natural and synthetic sources every day, usually without serious
adverse responses. Thus, while its seems that there is nothing inherently
problematic with regards to the presence of nano-sized particles in the
environment, there certainly is the potential for serious environmental
problems related to specific formulations of nanoparticles due to the
manner in which their specific chemistry and/or physical structure may
interact with a specific biological system. In our research program, we
are developing biofunctionalized polystyrene-based nanoparticles as non-antibiotic-based
antibacterial agents for food safety issues relevant to the poultry industry.
As part of this overall USDA sponsored program, we are evaluating the
exposure sensitivity of our nanoparticles using both in vitro cell toxicity
assays and in vivo assays for ingestion and inhalation and contact with
the skin and eyes. An overview of these studies will be presented along
with preliminary results, which have thus far not shown any adverse cellular
or tissue responses to our particular nanoparticle formulations.